Books for an Education

[Grey]

I've recently started to read again after a long period of intellectual stagnation, and I'm having trouble figuring out exactly what it is I need to be reading. I am interested in every subject imaginable, so if you feel like you have strong experience in any particular fields please recommend resources.

Thanks.

[Osweo]

Ooohh..... Start very general, with a general overview of what it is to be human, and go where your interest is then picqued.

H. G. Wells's 'History of the World' wouldn't be a bad start, I suppose. I got my dusty old copy second (or twelfth more likely) hand for about fifty pence.

I just used to read what I could get hold of that was cheap and seemed respectable.

[Grey]

Ooohh..... Start very general, with a general overview of what it is to be human, and go where your interest is then picqued.

H. G. Wells's 'History of the World' wouldn't be a bad start, I suppose. I got my dusty old copy second (or twelfth more likely) hand for about fifty pence.

I just used to read what I could get hold of that was cheap and seemed respectable.

Is this it?

I'm too distrustful of books for my own good. I'll spend hours looking through a bookstore only to leave because I'm not sure any of them will be worth the money.

This site seemed interesting, but half of the books aren't to be found online.

[Osweo]

Is this it?

It's the wrong title, but I flip through and find the same text. I remembered badly, my copy is called 'An Outline of History', but this pdf seems near enough identical (I tried to find a memorable part and it was there).

I'm too distrustful of books for my own good. I'll spend hours looking through a bookstore only to leave because I'm not sure any of them will be worth the money.

If they're NEW books, they almost never are! Root around for the classics and see what others on here say, and check the 'used' section on AMazon etc. for the bargains.

[SwordoftheVistula]

Anything by Ayn Rand, Ron Paul, or Pat Buchanan.

[Electronic God-Man]

Based on what you said in this thread, I would say that you seem interested in that area of philosophy known as aesthetics.

I suggest you read the following:

Aristotle's Poetics

Hegel's Introductory Lectures on Aesthetics

Tolstoy's What is Art?

Those are a few of the books that I read for an Intro to Aesthetics class.